Aquatic plant treatment method and apparatus with flotation containment chamber

ABSTRACT

A remote controlled floatation chamber with a trolling unit can be directed to a selected site in order to treat and control aquatic plants. The chamber method allows use of a broad range of treatment agents including herbicide, chemical and microbe&#39;s and UV-C light waves to destroy aquatic species. Provisions for deflating floatation tubes on the chamber allow it to be remotely lowered over species to be treated. Once the chamber is placed over the aquatic specie the treatment agent can be dispersed within the small volume of the containment volume with minimum exposure to the surrounding water. A variable volume device or storage bladder within the containment volume may be used to recycle the herbicide once treatment is completed. The chamber can then be moved to another site and the cycle repeated.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application contains subject matter which is related to pendingU.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/184,367 filed on Jun. 16, 2016entitled Short-Wavelength Ultraviolet Light Array for Aquatic InvasiveWeed Species Control Apparatus and Method having the same inventiveentity and ownership. That application is hereby incorporated herein byreference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention is generally directed to remediation of invasiveweeds disposed in lakes, ponds, ocean bays and other bodies of water.More particularly, the present invention is directed to the use of aherbicide to destroy invasive weeds and particularly to provide apractical way of using a herbicide in a manner that minimizes the amountof herbicide that is necessary and thereby minimizes the cost andenvironmental impact of a herbicidal approach to resolve the impact ofinvasive weeds. Although the description herein prominently refers toremediation of milfoil it will be understood that the present inventionhas application to other aquatic invasive weed species as well asmussels, clams, plants and still other aquatic species.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There are a number of methods used for treating aquatic weeds such asmilfoil. These include mechanical harvesters, manual weed pulling andremoval, herbicides and floor screens, barriers or large mats. The useof UV-C light waves is also a potential treatment method as described inthe incorporated patent application. The teachings of that applicationled to this application in order to expand the number and types oftreatment methods to battle the growing global environmental problemscaused by invasive aquatic species. The infestation of aquatic plants inlakes, ponds and waterways is growing rapidly and prior art methods havenot been effective or practical and new and better treatment methods areneeded. This invention offers an alternate treatment method thatisolates and treats the aquatic plants in a small containment volume ofthe chamber where herbicides, chemicals or even UV-C light waves can beused to destroy the contained plants. The UV-C ultraviolet light wavetreatment method incorporated by reference in this application describesin greater detail may be combined with the apparatus described herein.

Prior art aquatic weed remediation apparatus and methods includemechanical harvesters, mowers, hand pulling, smothering or barrier matsand herbicides are the primary aquatic plant treatment and controlmethods currently used. One of the above current methods used to treatand kill milfoil (aquatic plants) is barrier mats that cover and smotherthe plants. Divers swim out to an infected area and submerge a largeplastic, or rubber, or fabric mat on top of the milfoil. Some mats arein large rolls that are unrolled underwater. They add weights to holdthe mats in place at the floor of the body of water. (The term “floor”used herein refers to the land mass that supports a body of water. The“floor” may also be referred to herein as the bottom or terra firma.)The mat may have slits or vents to allow air and built up gases producedby decaying material to escape. The covered plants are eventually killedby the smothering action of the mats. The mats may remain over theplants for three (3) months before divers retrieve the mats. Theretrieved mats need to be cleaned and decontaminated after use. They areusually rolled up for storage until ready for use. Herbicides are alsoused for treatment and may be applied by surface sprays or by hosedirectly under water.

The prior art methods an apparatus involve complications. For example,mechanical harvesting methods leave behind large quantities of plantfragments that end up growing and causing additional infestations.Barrier mats require several divers to swim to an infested milfoil plantarea and lower the mats over the milfoil. The divers then have to addweights to prevent the mats from drifting away due to water currents.After 3 months, the divers need to return and remove the weights and themats. Installation and removal is a very time consuming and extremelycostly operation. It is also considered dangerous work for the divers.While such mat sit on the floor of the body of water for months, someplants will grow through the vent slits and sediment settles on top ofthe mats making removal and cleaning of the mats very difficult.

Prior art herbicide use requires large amounts of costly herbicide toobtain the concentrations needed in open bodies of water for treatingsurface and submerged plants. The herbicide quickly mixes with the waterinitially forming very high concentrations followed by very lowconcentration as the herbicide becomes diluted with water. The dilutionof the herbicide greatly limits effectiveness. It is virtuallyimpossible to obtain and control the proper concentration for effectivetreatment. Only a very small fraction of the herbicide ever comes incontact with the plants. Concerns about water pollution and healtheffects with drinking water contaminated with herbicides along withplants becoming resistant to the applied herbicide and high cost of theherbicide severely limit its use. Allowing large amounts of herbicide tomix and become diluted in open bodies of water facilitates the plantsbecoming resistant to the herbicide. Once fully diluted the entire bodyof water is contaminated with herbicide and that can upset theecosystem. Many unforeseen environmental problems can result.

From the above, it is therefore seen that there exists a need in the artto overcome the deficiencies and limitations described herein and above.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved method oftreating and destroying aquatic plants such as milfoil with apparatusthat produces the desired result while minimizing the cost and quantityof herbicide utilized.

Additional objects of the present invention are to eliminate the needfor divers, to substantially reduce the use of herbicides to a smallfraction of present use, to reduce costs, to reduce pollution, to speedup the treatment process and to improve safety. In lieu of treating themilfoil plants in open water this invention sinks a containment chamberover the tall growing milfoil plants and consolidates them in a denselypacked area within the chamber at the floor surface. This smallcontained treatment chamber volume is then treated with herbicide, andor other additives, when the exposure time is complete the herbicide mixis recycled back into a storage bladder for reuse or it is filteredthrough an activated carbon filter back into the water. The chambermethod also allows for use of UV-C ultraviolet light waves alone or incombination with herbicide or other chemicals to control aquaticspecies. It will be understood that the chamber in most preferredembodiments has an open bottom. The open bottom facilitates in somecases movement of the chamber over aquatic vegetation. In accordancewith conventional patent claim drafting practice, that is reluctant toclaim empty space, it will be understood that the structure involvedwhich might also be called cup shaped, bell shaped, inverted pan or bowlshaped or an inverted chamber may also be described as a housing havinga concave cavity. The term “concave” will be understood to include theinner surface of a bowl or sphere. Those skilled in the art willrecognize that this terminology reads on the structure described herein.Additional features and advantages are realized through the techniquesof the present invention. Other embodiments and aspects of the inventionare described in detail herein and are considered a part of the claimedinvention.

The recitation herein of desirable objects which are met by variousembodiments of the present invention is not meant to imply or suggestthat any or all of these objects are present as essential features,either individually or collectively, in the most general embodiment ofthe present invention or in any of its more specific embodiments.

Objects of the present invention are achieved in a method forremediation of aquatic vegetation disposed at least partially in a bodyof water such as a lake, pond, river or ocean having a floor whichincludes providing a housing having a concave cavity having a periphery;orienting said housing with the concave cavity facing downward;providing a remediation agent selected from the group consisting ofchemicals, microorganisms and a source ultraviolet light in the “C”range; moving the housing with the concave cavity facing downward overthe aquatic vegetation to be remediated; and positioning a quantity ofchange agent within the concave cavity whereby the distribution of thechange agent in the body of water is limited by the concave cavity.

In some embodiments of the present invention the remediation agent isselected from the group consisting of herbicides, insecticides, andmicrobes. The method may include moving the housing with the concavecavity facing downward over the aquatic vegetation to be controlled. Thestep of providing a housing may include providing a housing having aperipheral seal extending along substantially the entire periphery ofsaid concave cavity and which limits entry of water from the body ofwater into the concave cavity. The step of providing a remediation agentmay include the step of providing a reservoir containing a herbicide.The method may further include providing a reservoir containingherbicide and the reservoir is disposed within the concave cavity withinthe housing.

Some embodiments of the method in accordance with the present inventionincludes the step of providing UV-C ultraviolet light generatingapparatus within the housing to further augment destruction of undesiredvegetation. The method may further include the step of trolling thehousing through a body of water as well as positioning the housing insubstantially sealing relationship with the floor underneath the body ofwater. The method may include the step of filtering water within theconcave cavity to extract herbicide therein as well as the step ofreturning herbicide to the reservoir upon removal from the water withinthe concave cavity. The method may further include the step of providinga reservoir having a variable volume the outer envelope of the reservoirchanges dimensions with increase or decrease of the quantity ofherbicide disposed therein.

Some embodiments of the method in accordance with the present inventionfurther include the step of providing remote controls for the elevationof the housing as well as the latitude and longitude thereof. The methodmay further include providing flotation chambers attached to the housingto facilitate elevational changes of the housing. Some embodimentsinclude the step of adding or removing air from the flotation chambersto impact the elevation of the housing. In some cases, filtration of thewater in the concave cavity is achieved with an activated carbon filter.

The method may include the use of a vacuum pump to deflate flotationmembers to cause the housing to move to a lower elevation within thebody of water. The method may include intentionally causing the housingand the concave cavity to compacting weeds below the concave cavity andin some cases to push the periphery of the concave cavity against thefloor of the body of water. Some embodiments of the method furtherinclude the step of providing an air cylinder and selectively adding airto the flotation chambers to impact the elevation of the housing.

The method may further include the step of providing at least one pumpto move herbicide between the concave cavity and the reservoir as wellas the step of providing a dose dispensing cylinder to determine thequantity of herbicide deposited in the concave cavity. Other embodimentsof the method may include apparatus for controlling a position of thehousing from a boat.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of theinvention will be apparent from the following more particulardescription of illustrative embodiments of the invention, as illustratedin the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer tothe same parts throughout the different views. The drawings are notnecessarily to scale; emphasis instead being placed upon illustratingthe principles of the invention. Those skilled in the art willunderstand that the devices and methods specifically described hereinand illustrated in the accompanying drawings are non-limiting exemplaryembodiments. The features illustrated or described in connection withone exemplary embodiment can be combined with the features of otherembodiments. Such modifications and variations are intended to beincluded within the scope of the present invention.

The subject matter which is regarded as the invention is particularlypointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of thespecification. The invention, however, both as to organization andmethod of practice, together with the further objects and advantagesthereof, may best be understood by reference to the followingdescription taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic elevation cut-away view of the preferredembodiment of the chamber invention with herbicide mix storage bladderand deflated floatation tubes resting on the floor surface forming acontainment volume surrounding densely packed milfoil being treated withherbicide.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the chamber on the water surface with pumps andfiltration system.

FIG. 3 is a schematic elevation view of the chamber on the water surfacewith inflated floatation tubes and the storage bladder filled withherbicide mix.

FIG. 4 is a schematic elevation view of the chamber, as shown above,sinking after the floatation tubes are deflated.

FIG. 5 is a schematic elevation view of the chamber, as shown above,resting on the floor over deflected milfoil plants to be treated.

FIG. 6 is a schematic elevation view of the chamber, as shown above,resting on the floor over deflected milfoil plants. The herbicide mix isshown transferred from the storage bladder and into the chamber areathereby treating the milfoil plants.

FIG. 7 is a schematic elevation view of the chamber, as shown above,resting on the floor over the deflected milfoil plants after beingtreated. The herbicide mix is shown transferred from the containmentchamber area back into the storage bladder. The floatation tubes arestill shown deflated.

FIG. 8 is a schematic elevation view of the chamber, as shown above,rising in the water toward the surface after the floatation tubes areinflated.

FIG. 9 is a schematic plan view of a variation of the chamber, withoutthe storage bladder, on the surface of the water, with the herbicidecylinder, filter pump and activated carbon filter.

FIG. 10 is a schematic elevation view of a variation of the chamber,without the storage bladder, on the surface of the water, with theherbicide cylinder, filter pump and activated carbon filter. Theflotation tubes are shown inflated.

FIG. 11 is a schematic elevation view of the above variation of thechamber sinking, with the flotation tubes deflated.

FIG. 12 is a schematic elevation view of a variation of the chamber, asit rests on the floor over the milfoil plants to be treated. Theflotation tubes are shown deflated.

FIG. 13 is a schematic elevation view of a variation of the remotecontrolled chamber, after a dose of herbicide is introduced into thechamber providing the selected herbicide mix to treat the milfoilplants. The flotation tubes are shown deflated.

FIG. 14 is a schematic elevation view of a variation of the remotecontrolled chamber, after the milfoil plants are treated and theherbicide mix is being pumped through an activated carbon filter.

FIG. 15 is a schematic elevation view of a variation of the remotecontrolled chamber, after the milfoil plants are treated and filtrationtubes are inflated and the chamber is rising toward the surface.

FIG. 16 is a schematic elevation view of a variation of the chamber withthe flotation tubes are inflated and the chamber back on top of thewater surface.

FIG. 17 is a schematic plan view of a variation of the remote controlledchamber with a deflector so the chamber can be moved in a continuousmanner treating the milfoil plants along the floor.

FIG. 18 is a schematic plan view with multiple chambers fastenedtogether to form a larger chamber treatment area.

FIG. 19 is a schematic elevation view of a variation of the remotecontrolled chamber with a herbicide dosing cylinder and a compressed aircylinder with remote operated fill and air release valves.

FIG. 20 is a schematic elevation view of a variation of the remotecontrolled chamber on the surface of the water to treat surface aquaticplants. This includes a herbicide spray cylinder. The aerosol herbicideis sprayed directly into the containment volume to treat the surfaceaquatic plants. An optional circulating fan, shown dashed, can be usedto cause more turbulence of the herbicide spray on the plant surfacesfor improved efficiency.

FIG. 21 is a schematic elevation view of a variation of the remotecontrolled chamber on the floor to treat submerged aquatic plants. UV-Clights are used to treat the consolidated aquatic plants within thecontainment volume.

FIG. 22 is a schematic elevation view of a variation of the remotecontrolled chamber on the surface of the water to treat surface aquaticplants. UV-C ultraviolet lights are used to treat the surface aquaticplants within the containment volume.

FIG. 23 is a schematic elevation view of a variation of the remotecontrolled chamber propelled by powered wheels for chamber movementalong the floor to treat submerged aquatic plants. UV-C lights are usedto treat the consolidated aquatic plants within the containment volume.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of the present invention have many advantages over the priorart apparatus and method. The present invention allows for remoteoperation and requires no divers to deploy or remove the apparatus. Thechamber method allows for rapid herbicide treatment of concentratedmilfoil plants within the containment volume that takes only minutesversus months with barrier mats. The isolated treatment volume of thecontainment volume of the chamber is a small fraction of the full heightwater column volume above the chamber from prior art herbicidetreatment, thus allowing for a minimum of herbicide use only in thecontainment volume that may only be 1% or prior art herbicide use. Thisallows for precise herbicide concentration control for treatment andmeans are provided for herbicide reuse and or filtration. This method isfaster, safer, easy to control, less costly, more effective, and lesspolluting than prior art herbicide methods.

Many embodiments of the present invention include a containment volumewhere herbicide treatment of aquatic species occurs. A variety ofherbicides, pesticides, chemicals, microbes and enzymes even incombination can be used. Newer herbicides are being developed that havea shorter half-life and should be safer for the environment. Embodimentsof the present invention utilize other additives within the treatmentchamber to kill plants. In some embodiments microbes are disposed withinthe chamber to help digest the dead plants. The remote control modulefor the chamber may be located on a boat, dock or on land. A preferredembodiment of the invention includes a storage bladder or other variablevolume device to store the herbicide mix and allows reuse of theherbicide. Other variable volume devices include bellows apparatus or aballoon having an interior space as well as inlet and an outlet or acombination inlet/outlet. As shown in FIG. 1 a storage bladder 20 allowsfor minimizing the overall use of herbicide. More specifically theherbicide used with the apparatus and method of the present inventionmay be less than 1% of the quantity used when the herbicide is merelyadded to essentially the entire body of water being treated in prior artherbicide treatment methods. The chamber method without the storagebladder 20 as shown in FIG. 9 through FIG. 17 will still reduce theamount of herbicide to approximately 1% or 2% of prior art use.Filtration of the herbicide mix after treatment may also be provided.The chamber method may also be used for treating submerged plant andsurface aquatic plants as shown in FIG. 20. The herbicide use in thisvariation will be much higher than chamber methods on the floor butstill much less than prior art surface spray methods. Recirculating theherbicide spray with a fan as shown in FIG. 20 will be more effectivefor certain applications, however, the herbicide may be sprayed directlyinto the containment volume without a fan.

Another variation of this remote controlled floatation chamber inventionis the use of UV-C ultraviolet light waves alone or in combination withherbicides or other additives within the containment volume to treatsubmersed and surface aquatic species as shown in FIG. 21, FIG. 22, andFIG. 23.

The chamber in the preferred embodiment has a rigid or semi-rigid topsurface and an open lower extremity. The top surface may also beflexible with a rigid portion such as a sheet of ½″ thick HDPE forattaching various devices. A perimeter skirt with a weighted lowerextremity forms the flexible containment walls of the chamber. When theperimeter floatation ribs or tubes are inflated the top surface of thechamber may be above the water surface. A tow rope or a small propulsionsystem that is remote controlled is used is used in some embodiments tomaneuver the chamber to any desired location over an infestation ofaquatic plants.

When the floatation ribs or tubes are deflated the chamber sinks over amilfoil site and deflects the tall flimsy plants downward. When thechamber comes to rest on the floor, the perimeter skirt forms a sealwith the floor thereby forming a containment volume or chamber withdensely packed milfoil plants. The isolated containment chamber volumeis a small fraction of the full height water column volume above thechamber. If the water depth is 10′ and the containment chamber height is2″ that is only 1.67% of the full height that needs to be treated. Thisallows for activating a small dose of herbicide into the containmentchamber to treat the milfoil. Provisions for reuse or filtering of theherbicide can then occur. In many embodiments of the present inventionthe chamber height may be less than 2″.

Once the floatation tubes or ribs on the chamber are deflated thechamber sinks over the treatment area. The fixed support pads and theweighted flexible skirt around the perimeter of the chamber form acontainment volume over the aquatic milfoil plants. A rigid supportframe at the skirt attachment to the chamber perimeter keeps the heightof the chamber approximately 1″ to 2″ above the floor. The preferredembodiment of the invention includes a herbicide mix storage bladderthat is located under the top surface of the chamber. This provides ameans of displacing the water in the containment volume with the storagebladder containing the proper herbicide concentration mix. When thestorage bladder is full of herbicide mix, it will press against theplants and occupy most of the volume within the containment volume whenat rest on the floor.

The herbicide mix is then pumped out of the storage bladder with thedischarge pump and into the containment volume to treat the plants.Since the volume of the herbicide mix equals the volume of thecontainment volume, virtually no open water enters the containmentvolume during treatment. After the treatment exposure time is complete,a fill pump is used to transfer the herbicide mix water in thecontainment volume back into the storage bladder for reuse. Ideally withperfect displacement back and forth of the herbicide mix between thecontainment volume and the storage bladder, most of the herbicide isreused multiple times at other treatment areas. However, leakage ofwater in and out of the containment volume will occur so a small amountof herbicide will need to be dosed or added to maintain the properherbicide concentration for treatment.

At the end of the day after multiple milfoil sites have been treated thechamber can be returned to base, dock or boat. In this context, the term“boat” includes a barge or any floating object having sufficientbuoyancy to support the required apparatus. In some embodiments of theinvention the object may itself be remotely operated whereby both theobject and the chamber are remotely controlled. The remaining herbicidemix in the storage bladder can then be pumped through an activatedcarbon filter with the Filter Pump thereby resulting in a very smallamount of herbicide from entering the open water after multipletreatments.

By only treating the milfoil plants in the isolated containment volumethe herbicide concentration only occurs within the small water volume inthe containment volume for fast and effective treatment of the milfoil.This minimizes the overall use of herbicide to a small fraction of openwater treatment methods. The herbicide acts quickly to damage the celltissue of the densely positioned milfoil plants. Those skilled in theart will recognize that milfoil plants naturally grow multiple plantsclosely spaced together and thus densely disposed or positioned.

Once the treatment exposure time is completed, and that may only be afew minutes to hours, depending on the type and concentration of theherbicide used, plant type, temperature and other factors, the treatmentwater is pumped out of the containment volume and back into the storagebladder or through an activated carbon filter to remove the herbicide.The cleaned and treated water is then discharged into the open water.The small fraction of herbicide used may be less than 1% of prior artmethods. The preferred embodiment of the invention includes a storagebladder that allows for water displacement and reuse of the herbicide.

After treatment is completed the floatation ribs or tubes on the chamberare remotely inflated and the chamber apparatus floats to the surface.As an option, the herbicide mix in the storage bladder is pumped to astorage vessel on the boat or dock for future storage, treatment and ordisposal. This above method may result in a reduction of well over 99%of herbicide use. The chamber with a bladder treats multiple sites inone day in some embodiments. The overall cost of milfoil treatment withthis method will be a small fraction of prior art methods. Subsequenttreatment at a later date can be made with a different herbicide tominimize the chance of the milfoil developing a resistance to theherbicides. It is best to treat the plants when they are young.

In a variation of the chamber invention, as shown in FIG. 9 through FIG.18, the chamber is fitted with an herbicide cylinder, discharge pump anda filter. No bladder, fill pump or discharge pump are used. Thisvariation still reduced the herbicide use but not quite as much as thechamber with a storage bladder. The advantage of this variation is thesimplicity and lower costs. FIG. 19 is another variation that alsoeliminates the filter pump and filter. All these variationssubstantially reduce the amount of herbicide use and the selection ofeach variation depends on many factors including specific application,degree of infestation, location, operator experience, costs and otherfactors.

In a variation of the invention a large semi-flexible chamber withfloatation tubes in the form of a large flexible sheet with a rigidportion to hold certain components can be provided. For example, thechamber may be 12′ wide by 24′ long and have floatation tubes to keepthe chamber afloat when the tubes are inflated. Thus, the chamber willsink when the tubes are deflated. The chamber is remote controlled ortowed into position in some embodiments. When the chamber is used withmicrobes, the chamber will remain on the floor for longer periods togive the microbes a better chance of digesting the decaying plants.

For surface aquatic plant treatment, the chamber will remain on thewater surface with the containment volume that may be 8″ to 12″ high,forming a small volume of space above the aquatic plants portion abovethe surface of the water as shown in FIG. 20. The herbicide is sprayedinto the containment volume where it effectively comes in contact withthe plant surfaces above the water. An optional fan may be used to helpcirculate the herbicide spray in the containment volume.

A preferred embodiment of the Aquatic Plant Floatation Treatment Chamber10 invention hereinafter referred to as the chamber 11 and includes aremote control module 32 for controlling all operations for the chamber11 for inflating and deflating the floatation tubes 12, 13 or ribs,operating remotely the pumps 21, 22, 25 and herbicide dosing cylinder 19and filter 26 along with operating the pumps, area lighting 41, cameras40 and other items.

The specific remote controlled items are described more fully asfollows:

Remote Control Module 32: This includes operations with differentoptional variations.

This unit is located on the boat 43 or dock and includes an electricpower generator 45, air compressor 46, and vacuum unit 47, controllerthat is much like the remote controller for drones. It contains acomputer 48 that monitors, controls and switches various apparatus forremotely controlling apparatus including:

Control all control valves and switches 27.

Inflating the floatation tubes 12 on the chamber to keep it on the watersurface.

Deflating the floatation tubes 13 on the chamber so is sinks to thefloor.

Trolling unit 39 for piloting, steering and moving the chamber withremote operation.

Controls for administering a small pre-determined dose of herbicide intothe chamber.

Controls for administering a dose of herbicide 34 into the storagebladder 20.

Controls for administrating a dose of herbicide mix 34 into the chambercontainment volume 24 to start treatment exposure time cycle for theaquatic plants.

Control for sensors 28 that indicate the concentration of herbicidewithin the chamber.

Filter Pump 25 for pumping the herbicide mix or after treatment waterthrough the activated carbon filter 26.

Controls for sensors 28 that indicate the concentration of herbicideafter the activated carbon filter 26.

Discharge pump 21 for pumping the herbicide mix from the storage bladderinto the containment volume.

Fill Pump 22 for pumping the herbicide mix from the containment volumeinto the storage bladder.

Controls 32 for pumping the herbicide mix in the storage bladder to aboat storage vessel.

Controls 32 for activating area lighting to view the area near and underthe chamber.

Controls 32 for activating video cameras to view the area near and underthe chamber.

Computer 48 including monitoring screen to view and record plants andterrain near and under the chamber.

Record above and date, time, air and or water 36 temperature.

Remotely activate switches 27 and other devices on the chamberequipment.

Remotely activate compressed air cylinders 53 on a variation of thechamber invention.

Remotely activate herbicide sprayer for treatment of surface aquaticplants.

Remotely activate and control incidental or added items. In someembodiments, the remote control aspect of the apparatus also controlsthe location of the remote control module 32:

A number of support items to the invention such as batteries 30, remotecontrol devices, steering, pumps, fans and automatic valves 27 andcontrols may be off-the shelf items and many variations of each may beutilized.

Umbilical cord 42: An umbilical cord extends between the boat 43 andchamber 11 that contains flexible air tubing or hoses for deliveringcompressed air and or vacuum, electric power and control wirings forarea lights and camera and sensing wire to herbicide concentrationsensors, plus pumping operations, and other valves and control devices.A safety cable and or tow rope 50 is also included to retrieve thechamber should the floatation tubes be punctured or other equipmentproblem.

Floatation Containment Chamber 11: The chamber 11 may for example bebuilt in a modular design that can be joined together to make for alarge treatment unit. The preferred chamber module size may be 4′ wideby 8′ long. The chamber may have a solid, semi-solid or flexible topsurface with at least a portion that is ½″ thick high densitypolyethylene (HDPE) or other durable material to support other items tosuch as pumps, weights 14 filter, area lights, video cameras and otheritems. The perimeter skirt of the chamber may have a 2″ high angle whereit connects to the chamber top surface so it forms a 4′×8′ by 2″ highinverted chamber volume that is called the containment volume 24. Oncethe containment volume 24 is on the floor 23 it will occupy a volume of5.33 cubic feet or 40 gallons. The selection of 2″ height is for examplepurposes only and the bladder height may be more or less that may bebest determined by the floor 23 terrain and milfoil 38 plant densities.The top of the chamber 11 may have one-way vent 16 ports that allow forany trapped air within the containment volume 24 to escape.

Floatation tubes 12, 13 or ribs: The chamber perimeter has inflatablefloatation tubes or ribs for buoyancy. These tubes may be 8″ diameterwhen inflated. Allowing an overall perimeter length of 20′ the buoyantforce will be over 400 pounds. The tubes are remotely inflated anddeflated by the remote Control Module Unit 32 with compressed air orvacuum. The floatation tubes 12, 13 may be in two separate systems incase one system should be torn or damaged. Each floatation tube systemis sized to ensure that it has sufficient buoyant force to lift theweighed chamber 11 to the water 36 surface should the other floatationtube fail for any reason. When the floatation tubes are inflated thechamber and all attached components will float to the surface of thewater 36. When the floatation tubes are deflated, the weighed chamberwill sink to the floor 23. The material of fabrication may be vinylcovered nylon fabric or other durable puncture resistant material thatis UV resistant.

Weights 14 can be added, that may be sheets of ½″ thick HDPE, steelplates or pipes that attach to the top of the chamber that add weightand help cause it to sink and help deform and concentrate the flimsymilfoil 37 plants against the floor 23 when the floatation tubes 13 aredeflated. The weights 14 may also form part of the top surface of thechamber.

The top surface or ceiling of the chamber 11 may be solid, semi-solid orflexible with a solid support section such as the HDPE weight 14 tofasten or hold a number of support items including pumps, herbicidecylinder with dose dispensing device, activated carbon filter, herbicidetransfer pumps, area lighting, video cameras, vibrators, and markersthat are attached by cord to each corner of the chamber that float tothe surface to indicate where the chamber is.

Skirt: The perimeter of the chamber has a flexible rubber or plasticskirt 6″ to 12″ wide with a 1″ to 2″ rigid portion where it connects tothe chamber top surface and weighted lower extremity that in someembodiments is a chain within a hem on the lower extremity of theflexible skirt. This allow the skirt to form a seal on the irregularfloor 23 surface. The seal may not be watertight but should besubstantially tight to minimize open water movement into the containmentvolume.

Floatation position markers: The floating position markers 31 may haveLED flashing lights with a fluorescent color. The markers may also havean antenna 29 attached for receiving signals 51 from the remote controlmodule 32 to activate the various control devices 27.

Herbicide storage bladder: The bladder 20 may be attached to theunderside of the chamber 11 top surface and occupy most of thecontainment volume 24 volume when full of herbicide mix 34 as shown onFIG. 1 through FIG. 8. For illustrative purposes, without any intent toconstrain the size of the chamber 11 in all embodiments, a chamber 11that measures 4′×8′×2″ height chamber 11 will be used to illustratecertain features. The nominal size of the bladder 20 may be slightlyless than the volume of the containment volume and fit withincontainment volume 24. This can allow for a displacement volume of closeto 40 gallons of herbicide mix or water. The material of fabrication maybe vinyl covered nylon fabric or other durable puncture resistantmaterial that is UV resistant. Built in ribs in the bladder helpmaintain the 2″ height when full. Fill and empty tubes are attached tothe bladder that extend through the top surface of the chamber andconnect to the fill pump, discharge pump and Filter Pump on top of thechamber. In a variation of the chamber 11 invention with a flexible topsurface the storage bladder 20 and floatation tubes 13 may be formed asan integral part of the flexible top surface chamber material.

The storage bladder 20 is filled with an appropriate herbicide mix 34when the chamber 11 is first launched. When the chamber 11 sinks to thefloor 23 and covers the milfoil 38 it presses the delicate plantsagainst the floor 23. The chamber under ideal conditions rests on a flatfloor over the plants where the bladder displaces most of the open waterthat was under the chamber. Then to start the treatment mode thedischarge pump 21 will pump the herbicide mix 34 out of the storagebladder 20 and into the containment volume 24 of the chamber 11. If theperimeter skirt 15 forms a tight seal the herbicide mix 34 will fill thecontainment volume 24 of the chamber 11 as the volume of the storagebladder 20 decreased from full to empty. The better the seal the lessopen water 36 will mix and dilute the herbicide mix 34. The storagebladder 20 chamber 11 methods facilitate providing a predeterminedconcentration of herbicide mix 34 to treat the contained milfoil 38plants in the containment volume 24. Unlike open water herbicidetreatment methods where the concentration varies widely even withtremendous amounts of herbicide 33 being used, the chamber 11 methodallows for fast and accurate herbicide mix 34 concentration control withfast and efficient treatment of the milfoil 37 plants. The treatmenttime with this close control will in some cases be only a few minutes inorder to introduce sufficient herbicide on and into the milfoil plantstissue to cause them to die. Even though the milfoil 37 plants may havereceived a lethal dose of herbicide it may take a few days or weeks forthem to show the signs of dying, especially in cold water. After themilfoil plant exposure treatment time is completed the fill pump 22 willdraw the herbicide mix 34 water out of the containment volume 24 andpump it back into the storage bladder 20. It should be noted that as thestorage bladder 20 is filled or emptied while the chamber is at rest onthe floor, no open water should enter the containment volume. However,assuming a 10% to 20% average loss or dilution of herbicide mix 34during and after treatment, a dose of concentrated herbicide 33 isdispensed back into the storage bladder 20 in order to maintain theproper concentration. This is controlled by sensors 28 that measurecertain parameters relating the herbicide mix 34 concentration in someembodiments. The chamber 11 can then be raised and or moved to anadjacent or remote treatment area 54 where the treatment process can berepeated. The entire treatment cycle from setting the chamber 11 on thefloor 23 to moving it to an adjacent treatment area 54 site may onlytake 20 to 30 minutes. The chamber 11 may also be slowly towed over aninfested milfoil site for continuous flow treatment. This cycle ofmoving the chamber 11 and treating multiple treatment area 54 sites cancontinue. When all treatment area 54 sites are completed, or whendesired, the Filter Pump 25 can be energized to pump the herbicide mix34 from the storage bladder 20 through an activated carbon filter 26that is designed to capture and filter out the herbicide 33. This allowsfor the discharge water from the system to be virtually herbicide freeor greatly reduced. A sensor 28 measures the concentration of herbicideexiting the filter in some embodiments.

The storage bladder 20 may be a vinyl coated nylon material that isbiased when full to be 2″ thick by the length and width that may bewithin 4′×8′ for example. In this case the containment volume 24 volumewill be 5.33 cubic feet or 40 gallons. Partial ribs or deformations onthe bladder surface allow for flow to occur between the top surface ofthe chamber 11 and the top of the storage bladder 20. Fill and emptytubes on the bladder extend through the top surface of the chamber 11 tothe various pumps. The fill pump and discharge pump are electricallyoperated in some embodiments and be high flow low and pressure type, forexample 10 gallons per minute at 10′ head. Accordingly, filling or emptythe bladder can occur in 4 minutes. The filter pump preferably has ahigher output pressure and lower flow pump that may be, for example, 4gpm at 60′ head to accommodate the filter 26 pressure drop. This willfilter the 40 gallons of herbicide mix 34 water in 10 minutes. The aboveexample is based on 2″ of bladder height. If this height were 1″ thevolume will be 20 gallons and filtering time will be 5 minutes. Inpractice, it is desired to keep the containment volume 24 volume to aminimum and that will depend on floor terrain, size, type and density ofplants and other factors.

One variation of the chamber 11 invention excludes the storage bladder20 and transfer pumps as shown on FIG. 9 through FIG. 17. In areas whereherbicide 33 use is more acceptable this variation will substantiallyreduce the amount of herbicide 33 used to treat aquatic milfoil plants37 but not as much as with the storage bladder 20 method. This bladderfree containment volume 24 method will be less expensive and lesscomplicated to operate.

This embodiment of the chamber 11 invention allows for the herbicide 33to be mixed directly into the containment volume 24 of the chamber fortreatment when the chamber 11 is on the floor 23. A herbicide cylinder19 with a dose dispensing mechanism is used at each treatment area site.Once the chamber 11 is in place over a milfoil plant 38 area to betreated a small dose of herbicide 33 is injected into the containmentvolume 24 that may be 40 gallons of volume. At 100 ppm herbicideconcentration, the dose will be less than 1 ounce per 40 gallons.Typically, 6 to 12 sites or more will be treated in one 8 hour day.After the milfoil treatment exposure time with herbicide mix 34 iscompleted in the containment volume the treated water with herbicide ispumped by the Filter Pump 25 into and through an activated carbon filter26 that reduces the herbicide concentration to a fraction of thestarting concentration. It is estimated that the overall herbicidevolume that enters the waterway with this invention may be less than 1%of prior art herbicide treatment methods.

An alternative embodiment of the chamber 11 excludes the storage bladder20, pumps 21, 22, 25 and filter 26 as shown on FIG. 19. In areas whereherbicide 33 use is much more acceptable this variation will stillsubstantially reduce the amount of herbicide 33 used to treat aquaticmilfoil plants 37 than prior treatment methods. Embodiments of this typeutilize a much larger flexible chamber resulting in apparatus and amethod that has less operating costs and it is less complicated tooperate.

The chamber 11 method may also be used for control of surface aquaticplants 55 as shown in FIG. 20. Prior art surface sprays of herbicide 33use low pressure and large orifices in the spray nozzles to generatelarge droplet sprays 57. This is to prevent or minimize drift of thespray 57 that may extend for long distances and cause herbicide 33 toland where it is not wanted. This chamber 11 method with its containmentvolume 24 allows for the use of higher spray pressures and smallerorifices in nozzles that can produce very fine spray droplets or a mistand no herbicide 33 drift outside of the containment volume 24. All thespray 57 is contained and not exposed to ambient air. The finer thespray 57 the greater the herbicide 33 coverage on the plant 55 surfacesand that insures more efficient plant treatment. In this variation aherbicide sprayer 56 dispenses a fine spray 57 or mist of herbicide 33directly into the containment volume 24. An optional circulating fan 58and ductwork 59 can also be used to enhance the contact between theplant 55 surfaces and the fine herbicide spray 57 as shown dashed inFIG. 20. The circulating fan 58 circulates the airborne herbicide spray57 or mist through the ductwork 59 and into the containment volume 24where a diffuser plate 60 is used to more evenly distribute the airborneherbicide spray 57 over the surface of the aquatic plants 55. A screen61 prevents plants 55 and plant fragments from blocking the inlet to theoptional circulating fan 58. Re-circulating the spray 57 over and overhelps keep the spray 57 airborne and helps obtain through spray coveragefor all of the plant 55 surfaces above the water 36.

All the above variations of this invention employ a chamber 11 with acontainment volume 24 where controlled herbicide treatment of aquaticmilfoil plants 37 can efficiently be provided. The variation selectedwill most likely be based on the degree of opposition to herbicide 33use. Certain pristine lakes that supply drinking water may have verystrong opposition to the use of any herbicide 33 use but may considerthe chamber invention 10 with bladder 20 and filter 26. Where lakesserve mainly recreational and agricultural use the chamber inventionwith only the filter 26 feature may be more acceptable. Where herbicide33 use at certain lakes is readily acceptable and where cost is a majorconcern, the chamber method with herbicide dose dispensing cylinder 19may be the preferred choice. All these chamber 11 treatment variationsare included in this treatment chamber invention 10.

UV-C Chamber Method: The chamber 11 method with UV-C 62 light wavetreatment can be used on submersed or surface aquatic plants 38. Theremote controlled floatation chamber 11 can be directed to a site by thetrolling unit 39. For submersed plants 37 the floatation tubes 13 willbe deflated so the chamber 11 sinks to the floor 23, forming acontainment volume 24 over the aquatic plants 38 to be treated. Supportposts 64 under the chamber maintain a certain selected height of thecontainment volume 24. For surface aquatic plants 37 the containmentvolume 24 is the space between the water surface 36 and the top surfaceof the chamber 11. The height of the containment volume 24 is determinedby the height of the floatation tubes 12 above the surface of the water36 and the top surface of the chamber 11. The UV-C 62 lights areremotely activated and remain “on” for the exposure period that may be 5to 10 minutes or more. A perimeter light shield 63 stops stray UV-C 62light from escaping the containment volume 24. In some applications, theuse of UV-C 62 lights and herbicides 33 may be used together to treataquatic species 37.

Buoyancy: The treatment chamber 11 in a 4′×8′ size for example may onlyweight 50 pounds but once fitted in the field with all the attachmentsand weights it may reach 200 pounds. The buoyant force of two sets offloatation tubes 13 may have a buoyant force of 300 pounds each for atotal of 600 pounds lifting force. This standby and excess buoyant forcehelps insure that the chamber 11 will float to the surface when thetubes 13 are fully inflated even with some milfoil plants 37 or sedimentthat may drape on or cover the chamber 11 and even if one section of thefloatation tubes 13 are damaged.

This chamber invention 10 solves most of the problems associated withprior art herbicide 33 treatment application methods that can causenumerous health, safety and largely unknown environmental problems alongwith high costs. This Remote Operated Milfoil Treatment FloatationContainment Chamber invention 10 can automatically treat densely packedmilfoil plants 38 within the containment volume 24 quickly andefficiently. This chamber method reduces the milfoil treatment volume tothe containment volume 24 and not the volume of the nearby entire openwater 36 area. This close proximity treatment method of milfoil shouldresult in a reduction of approximately 99% of herbicide 33 use overprior art application methods.

There are a number of herbicides 33 that are used in open waterapplications to treat aquatic plants including milfoil 37. These includeherbicides, such as Imazamox®, Harvester® Liquid, Fluridone® Liquid,Clearcast® and many others. DMA 4IVM contains the active ingredientsDimethylamine® salt of 2,4-D and the label shows excellent control ofEurasian Water Milfoil. The label shows it safe for drinking water whenthe concentration is less than 70 ppb. Since virtually all herbicidelabels show recommendation concentration of use in open waters, a muchhigher herbicide mix concentration within the containment volume 24should greatly speed up the treatment control of the plants 38 withinthe containment volume. Some herbicides are effective at concentrationsof 100 to 200 ppm (parts per million) and some are rated in ppb (partsper billion). Manufactures list restrictions and terms of use when addedto open water 36. Some have a very short half-life and new herbicidesare being introduced that appear to be much safer to use even in lakesthat provide water for drinking.

A description of the Environmental Protection Agency filtrationrecommendations is published on the World Wide Web by Pure WaterProducts, LLC of Denton Tex. athttp://www.purewaterproducts.com/articles/carbon. The EPA's pesticidescategory lists 14 familiar poisons such as Aldicarb, Chlordane,Heptachlor, and Lindane. In all 14 cases, activated carbon is the onlyrecommended filtration treatment. Of the 12 herbicides listed (2,4-D,Atrazine, etc.), activated carbon is the only filter treatmentrecommended. For Organics, Pesticides, and herbicides, the standardtreatment, and in most cases the recommended treatment is activatedcarbon. An activated carbon filter is ordinarily used in the apparatusand method of the present invention although other medias and additivesmay be used or in combination with activated carbon.

Imazamox® herbicide 33 at a concentration of 100 ppm was selected foruse in evaluating the method and apparatus of the present inventionbecause that herbicide can be removed or filtered with the activatedcarbon filter 26 that is part of this invention 10. A number of otherapproved herbicides may be used where allowed and with variousconcentrations and treatment times. All the herbicides labels listconcentrations based on type of aquatic weeds in open water where theherbicide is diluted fairly fast. This chamber 11 method can use most ofthese herbicides but may use a much higher concentration for a shorterexposure time period in order to effectively treat the milfoil plants38. Some of the listed herbicides show concentrations of 50 to 150 ppmand some in ppb. If these rates were doubled, less than one ounce orherbicide 33 will be used in the 40 gallon containment volume. Then withthe reuse by the bladder 20 feature and the activated carbon filter 26the amount of herbicide 33 that will remain in the open water 36 isnegligible compared to any prior art herbicide application method.

Example of prior art method to a chamber 11 method use on submergedplants with an 8′×16′ treatment area 54: This compares the amount ofherbicide that may be used for treatment as compared to this invention.The treatment area is 8′×16′. This is the area for four (4) 4′×8′chambers 11 connected together.

Calculation Prior Art Herbicide Method:

Submerged plants are treated by underwater hose distribution ofherbicide that allows for the herbicide to mix with the full height ofwater from floor to the surface as it becomes fully diluted. Even thoughthe prior use of herbicide is used to treat large open areas and cannotbe restrained within the treatment area the use of only the treatmentarea for general example areas to demonstrate the dramatic difference inthe amount of herbicide needed between prior art and the chamber method.In this example, there is an 8′×16′ area that is 10′ deep that is to betreated with herbicide.

This prior art method needs to treat a minimum of the 8′×16′×10′deep×7.5 gallons per CF=9,600 gallons of water 36. This volume of watershould have an average herbicide concentration of 100 ppm. This willrequire the use of 9,600 gallons×100 ppm/1,000,000 ppm=0.96 gallon or123 ounces of herbicide 33. This is a very rough relative estimate andmay vary widely but may be reasonable for comparison purposes.

Calculation Chamber Method:

The volume of water in the 2″ high containment volume that needs to betreated is a fraction of that required by prior art methods andapparatus. In one embodiment of the present invention an 8′×16′ chamberis lowered to 2″ above floor covering the milfoil. That is8′×16′×2″/(12″/ft)=21.3 cubic feet that corresponds to 160 gallonswithin the containment volume 24. At 100 ppm: The concentration will be160 gallons×100 ppm 1,000,000 ppm=0.016 gallons=2 ounces herbicide 33.

Comparison of the above treatment methods is a comparison of 2 ouncesversus 123 ounces or 1.6% of prior art herbicide needed. In this case,prior art allows 123 ounces of herbicide 33 to remain in the body ofwater. By comparison, this invention only allows 2 ounces to remain inthe water. However, by using the storage bladder 20 feature and or theactivated carbon filter 26 the actual amount of herbicide 33 thatremains in the body of water may be less than 1% a negligible. It shouldbe noted that the herbicide treatment method for surface aquatic plantsas shown in FIG. 20 will not significantly reduce the amount ofherbicide use. However, the method of the present invention does reducethe loss and drift of herbicide spray away from the treatment area.

Reducing the amount of herbicide needed to treat aquatic weeds by 50% isa substantial improvement over the prior art. Reducing the amount ofherbicide to 10% or less it is a major improvement over the prior art.The chamber treatment method in accordance with the present inventionuses a negligible amount of herbicide and furthermore allows geographicareas that do not presently allow herbicide use to consider the methodof treatment in accordance with the present invention.

Some embodiments of the present invention utilize filtration ofcontainment volume herbicide mix after treatment. In such embodimentsonce the milfoil treatment exposure time is completed, and that dependson the time and concentration, for example 100 ppm, of the herbicideused, the 160 gallons of herbicide mix 34 in the containment volume 24is pumped through an activated carbon filter 26. The filtered herbicidemix 35 leaving the filter should have a very low concentration ofherbicide as it is discharged into the open water. The chamber water mayalso recycle several times through the activated carbon filter in orderto reduce the herbicide to an even lower concentration. When filteringis complete the remaining herbicide 33 in the water may be far less than1% of what would be used with the prior art approach. Even without anyfiltration, the amount of herbicide 33 remaining in the water from thischamber method may be less than 2% of what would have been used with theprior art approach.

Should be a rigid sheet of ½″ HPDE. The overall size of one chamber 11may be 4′×8′, or 32 square feet. This modular size may be practical dueto weight and ease of handling for areas with small amounts of aquaticplants that may be found near marinas. However, any size chamber may beused. Large chambers may be made of a lightweight flexible fabric withreinforcing ribs that may also be the floatation tubes when inflated.Rigid sheets that act as weights and supports for connecting items tocan be added. The chamber in some embodiments is fitted with edgeconnectors that allow for any number of chambers to be quickly attachedtogether at the water treatment site. The collective size of, forexample, 12 such chambers, where each chamber is 4′×8′, tied togethercovers a 12′×32′ area, or 384 square feet. Thus, the utilization of aplurality of such chambers results in an apparatus and method that isscalable from a very small to almost any large size. Each chamber insome embodiments are constructed whereby the entire chamber may berolled up in a cylindrical roll for transport and unrolled at a worksite. The floatation tubes may be formed as part of the chamber topsurface and when inflated give it a rigid shape on the surface of thewater. The size may be 20′ wide by 80′ long or any other desired size.Weights made of HDPE sheets can then be added to provide weight and arigid surface for securing items to.

Sequence of Operation for a Preferred Embodiment of the Invention.

The Remote Operated Milfoil Treatment Floatation Chamber 10 is deliveredto a boat 43 dock, beach or site for launching and treatment of aquaticmilfoil plants 37. A Remote Control Module Assembly 32, 48 located onthe boat 43 is used for all control and operation of all the componentsincluding electric power generator 45, air compressor 46, vacuum pump47, computer, monitor, controls panel and recorders 48, some withwireless technology devices. The floatation tubes 12 are inflated priorto placing the chamber 11 in the water.

Support items can be provided on a rigid attachment 18 portion on top ofthe chamber 11 and may include pumps, filters, cylinders, and otheritems. Weights 14 can be added to allow the chamber 11 to sink when thefloatation tubes 13 are deflated. The storage bladder 20 is filled withherbicide mix 34 prior to launching the chamber 11 to the treatment site54.

The control module 32 activates a remote controlled trolling unit 39 anddirects the chamber 11 to the selected treatment site 54. Once thechamber 11 is over the selected treatment site 54 the control module 32can deflate the floatation tubes 13. The chamber 11 will then sink overthe treatment area 54 and cover the aquatic plants 37 in the containmentvolume 24. A perimeter skirt 15 helps form a seal with the floor 23 tominimize and transfer of water 36 or herbicide mix 34 in or out of thecontainment volume 24. The deflected aquatic milfoil plants 37 arepressed against the floor 23 by the underside of the storage bladder 20.The control module 32 can then active the discharge pump 21 that pumpsthe herbicide mix 34 out of the storage bladder 20 and into thecontainment volume 24. As the displacement storage bladder 20 is emptiedvirtually no water 36 enters or leaves the containment volume 24. Thishelps insures that very little loss of herbicide mix 34 occurs. This isthe point where herbicide mix 34 treatment occurs. The treatmentexposure time may vary depending on many factors but may be 5 to 10minutes or more. After the treatment exposure time the remote controlmodule 32 can activate the Fill pump 22. This will pump the herbicidemix 34 in the containment volume 24 back into the storage bladder 20 forfuture use. The control module can then active and inflate thefloatation tubes 12 that cause the chamber 11 to rise to the water 36surface. With the area lights 41 and remote operated video cameras 40the operator can control the chamber 11 position to partial height inthe water 36 or to the surface by use of the remote controlled trollingunit 39 and floatation tubes 12, 13. In many cases the chamber 11 may bedirected in a grid pattern over a large infestation of milfoil plants37. In this case the chamber 11 may only be lifted a short height andrepositioned over the milfoil 37 until the entire treatment area 54 hasbeen treated. On each corner of the chamber 11 floatation positionmarkers 31 attach to the chamber with nylon rope. The flotation markersfloat to the surface. The markers show on the surface of the water 36where the chamber 11 is located underwater.

The treatment chamber 11 method in another variation may replace priorart barrier mats that are labor intensive and remain on the floor formonths. For application where it is not desired to allow the decayingplants to reintroduce their 24 contained nutrients back into the water,microbes can be used within the containment volume after treatment. Thechamber with a dose dispensing cylinder of microbes setting on thecovered infested plants may first kill the plants by herbicide, chemicalor non-chemical means. Then the dispensing cylinder can introducemicrobes, bacteria and or enzymes into the chamber that will digest thedecaying plants, including phosphorus, ammonia and nitrates. Microbesdigest and break down the decaying organic matter into harmless waterand carbon dioxide. This is a much slower process than herbicide usealone but may be preferred in certain applications. See FIG. 19 for thisvariation. One biological treatment product for example is NT-MAXBiological Digester Treatment.

Several compressed air cylinders may be attached to the top of chamber.Each cylinder may hold over 100 standard cubic feet of compressed air.Each compressed air cylinder is fitted with a manual shut-off valve, airpressure regulated and an automatic open or close control valve. Theseare used to inflate the floatation tubes or other air operated items.

Batteries: The use of totally submersible batteries such as the Bluefin1.5 kWh Subsea Batteries that are rechargeable lithium-polymer type canbe used for electric power to the transfer pumps, trolling unit,lighting and other devices.

The fill pump and discharge pump is a high flow rate, low headsubmersible pumps.

The battery is sized to power a trolling unit that moves the chamber toany desired location. The remote controls, power and steering systemwill be much like a prior art model boat described athttp://www.myrctopia.com/sbme/

Known herbicide utilization information includes the use of a Harvester®Landscape & Aquatic Herbicide liquid for floating and marginal weeds aswell as for submersed weeds. Submersed weeds, for example are treated byapplying the herbicide in water at a rate of 0.5-2.0 gallons per surfaceacre (per 4 foot water depth). For severe weed infestations, the 2.0gallon per surface acre rate is utilized and the application is repeatedas necessary at 14-21 day intervals. A chart describing a pluralityrespective herbicides in the limitations on use of such herbicides withrespect to human, animal and irrigation applications appears at:http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0206/8486/t/2/assets/WUR2015.pdf.

The US Environmental Protection Agency websitehttps://www.epa.gov/pesticide-science-and-assessing-pesticide-risks/finalization-guidance-incorporation-water-treatmentdescribes the use of activated carbon for removal of herbicides fromwater. The EPA's Pesticides category lists 14 familiar poisons such asAldicarb®, Chlordane®, Heptachlor®, and Lindane®. In all 14 cases,activated carbon is the only recommended treatment. Of the 12 herbicideslisted (2,4-D, Atrazine, etc.), activated carbon is the only treatmentrecommended. For Organics, Pesticides, and herbicides, the standardtreatment, and in most cases the only treatment recommended, isactivated carbon. Other filtration media is used in other embodiments.

REFERENCE NUMERAL LISTING

-   -   10. Invention. Remote Operated Aquatic Plant Treatment        Floatation Containment Chamber (Chamber).    -   11. Chamber: This is also referred to as the invention or top        surface of the containment volume.    -   12. Floatation tubes or ribs inflated. These are used to raise        the chamber when inflated.    -   13. Floatation tubes or ribs deflated. These are used to sink        the chamber when deflated.    -   14. Weights. These may be HDPE sheets or steel plates or pipes        that add weight to the chamber to help make it will sink when        the tubes are deflated. The HDPE sheets may be ½″ to ¾″ thick.        In addition to adding weight, they may also form part of the        chamber top surface portion. These flat plastic plates on top of        chamber can also act as a support platform for attaching items        to.    -   15. Skirt. This is the pliable rubber, plastic or fabric on the        outer perimeter of the chamber that helps form a seal between        the chamber top surface and the irregular floor surface in order        to isolate the water and plants within the containment volume of        the chamber. The skirt has a chain like weight at the lower        extremity to help form a seal between the irregular floor and        the lower extremity of the skirt in order to form a containment        volume. The frame of the skirt will in some embodiments provide        a 1″ to 2″ height that helps insure a minimum design volume of        the containment volume.    -   16. Vents. These are one way flap type vents on top of the        chamber that relieve any air trapped in the containment volume.    -   17. Grommets. These are located on the perimeter of the chamber        and are used to attach guide or tow lines, markers and for        joining multiple chambers together to form a large chamber.    -   18. Attachments. These are connection devices such as straps,        fasteners or clamps on top of chamber for securing pumps,        cylinders, filters, batteries and other items.    -   19. Herbicide cylinder. This stores the concentrated herbicide        on top of the chamber. The cylinder includes shut off valve,        remote control valve, pressure regulator and dose dispenser. It        is remotely activated to provide a pre-determined dose of        concentrated herbicide into a storage bladder or the chamber        area. Although the present description refers to a “herbicide        cylinder” It will be understood that other embodiments may        instead dispense a pesticide, chemical, microbes or other        selected additive.    -   20. Storage bladder. This is used to hold the herbicide mix. It        includes connection hoses or tubes to pumps and filter. It will        hold approximately the same volume as the containment volume.        The herbicide mix can then be transferred into the containment        volume and back into the storage bladder in a displacement        manner so no fluid enters or leaves the containment volume to        the surrounding water. The pumps and other items are remotely        controlled.    -   21. Discharge pump: This pumps herbicide mix out of the storage        bladder: This is used to transfer herbicide mix from the storage        bladder into the containment volume. Sometimes referred to as a        transfer pump. Remotely controlled.    -   22. Fill Pump This pumps herbicide mix from the containment        volume into the Storage Bladder: Sometimes referred to as a        transfer pump. Remotely controlled.    -   23. Floor. This is the bottom ground surface area supporting the        body of water.    -   24. Containment volume. This is the space within the perimeter        skirt between the chamber top surface and the floor surface when        the chamber is on the floor. It contains the densely packed        flimsy milfoil plants. Most of the water will be displaced by        the storage bladder. The height between the bottom and top        surface of the chamber depends of the milfoil density and the        floor terrain. The height may be less than 1″ to over 4″ but 2″        is the average height used for estimating purposes. The        containment volume may also be above the water to the chamber        top surface when aquatic surface plants are treated. In this        case the height of the containment volume may be 8″ to 12′ or        more depending on plant height and other conditions.    -   25. Filter Pump: This pumps the herbicide mix from the storage        bladder or containment volume through the activated carbon        filter assembly. The pump is remotely controlled.    -   26. Activated carbon filter. This is used to filter the        herbicide from the treated water herbicide mix from the        containment volume or storage bladder upon completion of the        milfoil treatment and prior to release of the filtered water to        the open water.    -   27. Remote control solenoid valves and switches. These solenoid        valves and switches individually serve compressed air and vacuum        lines for inflating the flotation tubes, deflating the flotation        tubes; controlling flow into and out of storage bladder;        controlling the transfer and filtration pumps; and controlling        the herbicide dose dispensing or herbicide spray.    -   28. Sensors: These sense certain parameters relating to the        concentration of herbicide in the herbicide mix or before and        after the activated carbon filter. The sensors transfer        information back to the control panel.    -   29. Antenna. This may be connected to a floatation marker line        and remain partially above the water surface in order to provide        a stronger remote single to the activation devices and equipment        on the chamber.    -   30. Battery: In lieu of delivering electric power from the        control assembly on the boat, dock or land a submersible power        battery may be provided for pumps, fans, trolling unit,        herbicide spray, area lighting and other items.    -   31. Position markers. A floatation position marker is attached        to each corner of the chamber. The bright color marker float,        LED light and battery with attachment cord is connected to the        chamber. This shows the position of the chamber when deployed        underwater and can alert boaters to avoid the area near the        chamber.    -   32. Remote control module. This boat or dock based automatic        control module contains all the remote control single devices,        much like a drone controller, to activate all the control        devices and equipment for inflating and deflating the floatation        tubes, a trolling unit for moving and steering the chamber,        pumping and transferring herbicide mix, and pumping the used        treated water with herbicide to the activated carbon filter.        This also controls the area LED lighting and the video cameras.        The control module unit includes an electric power generator,        transformer, air compressor, vacuum unit, monitor and recorder        and other support items.    -   33. Herbicide. This is concentrated herbicide before being mixed        with water. It is stored in the herbicide cylinder or tank.    -   34. Herbicide mix. This is the herbicide and water mixture at        the desired concentration for use in treatment. It is also        called treatment water. It may be stored in the storage bladder        or placed in the containment volume to treat aquatic plants.    -   35. Filtered herbicide mix. This is the filtered herbicide mix        leaving the activated carbon filter.    -   36. Water. This is the body of water in the lake, pond or        waterway.    -   37. Milfoil. This term is used to include all aquatic species of        plants including Eurasian watermilfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum).        Although the description uses this term it will be understood        that the apparatus and method of the present invention have        application to other aquatic plants including surface plants and        other species such as invasive Zebra mussels and clams and other        mollusca pests that are subject to treatment and eradication.    -   38. Milfoil plants under chamber in containment volume subject        to herbicide treatment.    -   39. Trolling unit: This may be a remote controlled underwater        trolling motor that has features such as the Aqua-Vu Trolling        Motor Camera described at www.aquavu.com. It may also be a jet        stream operated unit. It may also be a battery operated fan        powered unit in applications and methods of the present        invention used to treat aquatic surface plants.    -   40. Video camera. This is the remote controlled camera that may        be similar to the Aqua-Vu Trolling Motor camera. See        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8PhMbrfaeQ.    -   41. Area lights. These may be LED lights to illuminate the area        near and under the chamber to allow for improved viewing of the        aquatic milfoil plants and terrain.    -   42. Umbilical cord. This includes the compressed air tube,        vacuum tube, electrical wires, sensing cables, control wiring        and safety cable plus any other line type items between the        control module and the remote operated chamber.    -   43. Boat: This may be the boat, raft, dock or land where the        remote control module is located.    -   44. Screen. This strains out debris and plant tissue from        entering the pump suction.    -   45. Electric power generator. This is located in the boat or on        the dock.    -   46. Air compressor for inflating the floatation tubes. This is        located in the boat or on the dock.    -   47. Vacuum unit for deflating floatation tubes. This is located        in the boat or on the dock.    -   48. Computer, monitor, control panel and remote controller for        all control operations.    -   49. Winch assembly for umbilical cord and safety cable or tow        rope.    -   50. Tow rope. This may be a rope or cable that is used to help        guide and position the chamber or retrieve the chamber if the        floatation tubes fail.    -   51. Single wave between remote control module and the device or        item to be activated that may be a trolling unit, pump, fan,        filter, valve or activation device on chamber.    -   52. Deflector. The deflector is a curved form on the leading        edge of the chamber and helps deflect the standing milfoil plant        downward and into the containment volume as the chamber is towed        and moved along the floor.    -   53. Compressed air cylinder. This is used on a variation of the        invention where the chamber is remotely controlled to inflate        the floatation tubes.    -   54. Treatment area. This is an area that has milfoil plants that        are to be treated with the chamber herbicide mix treatment        method.    -   55. Surface aquatic plants. These are the aquatic surface plants        that have parts of the plant above the water surface as shown in        FIG. 20.    -   56. Herbicide sprayer for use in treating surface aquatic        plants. This includes shut off valve, control valve and        discharge tube into the containment volume.    -   57. Airborne herbicide spray. The airborne herbicide spray comes        in contact and treats the aquatic surface plants in the        containment volume above the surface of the water.    -   58. Circulating fan. This optional fan, shown dashed in FIG. 20,        circulates the herbicide spray through ductwork and into the        containment volume and over the surface of the aquatic plants        for improved coverage. The herbicide spray may be dispensed        directly into the containment volume without the fan.    -   59. Ductwork. This optional ductwork, shown dashed in FIG. 20,        conveys the airborne herbicide spray to and from containment        volume to treat surface aquatic plants.    -   60. Diffuser Plate. This plate or diffuser helps distribute the        airborne circulating herbicide spray over the surface aquatic        plants in the containment volume. The diffuser plate helps        direct the spray pattern in a horizontal direction for improved        contact of herbicide spray with the plant surfaces.    -   61. Screen. This prevents plants and plant fragments from        blocking the return flow of airborne herbicide spray from the        containment volume into the inlet of the circulating fan when        treating surface aquatic plants.    -   62. UV-C. Ultra Violet Light in the “C” range.    -   63. Light shield. This shield prevents stray UV-C light waves        from escaping from the containment volume.    -   64. Support post. This post keeps the chamber top surface a        fixed minimum distance from the floor that maintains several        inches clearance to the UV-C lights.

All publications and patent applications mentioned in this specificationare indicative of the level of skill of those skilled in the art towhich this invention pertains. All publications and patent applicationsare herein incorporated by reference to the same extent as if eachindividual publication or patent application was specifically andindividually indicated to be incorporated by reference.

Although the description above contains many specifics, these should notbe construed as limiting the scope of the invention, but as merelyproviding illustrations of some of the presently preferred embodimentsof this invention. Thus, the scope of this invention should bedetermined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents.Therefore, it will be appreciated that the scope of the presentinvention fully encompasses other embodiments which may become obviousto those skilled in the art, and that the scope of the present inventionis accordingly to be limited by the appended claims, in which referenceto an element in the singular is not intended to mean “one and only one”unless explicitly so stated, but rather “one or more.” All structural,chemical, and functional equivalents to the elements of theabove-described preferred embodiment that are known to those of ordinaryskill in the art are expressly incorporated herein by reference and areintended to be encompassed by the present claims. Moreover, it is notnecessary for a device or method to address each and every problemsought to be solved by the present invention, for it to be encompassedby the present claims. Furthermore, no element, component, or methodstep in the present disclosure is intended to be dedicated to the publicregardless of whether the element, component, or method step isexplicitly recited in the claims. No claim element herein is to beconstrued under the provisions of 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, unlessthe element is expressly recited using the phrase “means for.”

1. A method for remediation of aquatic vegetation disposed at leastpartially in a body of water such as a lake, pond, river or ocean havinga floor which comprises: providing a housing having a concave cavityhaving a periphery; orienting said housing with the concave cavityfacing downward; providing a remediation agent selected from the groupconsisting of chemicals, microorganisms, herbicides, pesticides,insecticides, microbes, and enzymes as well as combinations thereof;positioning the housing with the concave cavity facing downward over theaquatic vegetation to be remediated; providing a reservoir withremediation agent disposed therein; moving a quantity of remediationagent from the reservoir to the concave cavity whereby the distributionof the remediation agent in the body of water is limited by the concavecavity; leaving the remediation agent in the concave cavity for a periodof time to remediate aquatic vegetation within the concave cavity; andmoving the remediation agent in the concave cavity to the reservoir. 2.The method as described in claim 1 wherein the remediation agent isselected from the group consisting of herbicides, insecticides, andmicrobes.
 3. The method as described in claim 2 further includingsequentially moving the housing with the concave cavity facing downwardover multiple instances of aquatic vegetation to be controlled.
 4. Themethod as described in claim 3 wherein: the step of providing a housingincludes providing a housing having a peripheral seal extending alongsubstantially the entire periphery of said concave cavity and whichlimits entry of water from the body of water into the concave cavity. 5.The method as described in claim 1 wherein: the remediation agent is aherbicide and the step of providing a remediation agent includes thestep of providing a reservoir containing a herbicide.
 6. The method asdescribed in claim 1 wherein: the remediation agent is a herbicide andthe method further includes providing a reservoir containing herbicideand the reservoir is disposed within the concave cavity within thehousing.
 7. The method as described in claim 5 further includingproviding UV-C ultraviolet light generating apparatus within the housingto further augment destruction of undesired vegetation.
 8. The method asdescribed in claim 5 wherein: the method further includes the step oftrolling the housing through a body of water.
 9. The method as describedin claim 5 wherein: the method further includes positioning the housingin substantially sealing relationship with the floor underneath the bodyof water.
 10. The method as described in claim 5 wherein: the methodfurther includes periodically after repetitive instances of (1) moving aquantity of remediation agent from the reservoir to the concave cavityand (2) movement of remediation agent from the concave cavity to thereservoir the step of filtering water within the concave cavity toextract herbicide therein.
 11. The method as described in claim 5wherein: the method further includes periodically after repetitiveinstances of (1) moving a quantity of remediation agent from thereservoir to the concave cavity and (2) movement of remediation agentfrom the concave cavity to the reservoir the step of filtering waterwithin the concave cavity to extract herbicide therein and also includesthe step of returning herbicide to the reservoir upon removal from thewater within the concave cavity.
 12. The method as described in claim 5wherein: the step of providing a reservoir includes providing areservoir having a variable volume and an outer envelope of thereservoir changes dimensions with increase or decrease of the quantityof herbicide disposed therein.
 13. The method as described in claim 3further including the step of providing remote controls for theelevation of the housing as well as the latitude and longitude thereof.14. The method as described in claim 13 further including providingflotation chambers attached to the housing to facilitate elevationalchanges of the housing.
 15. The method as described in claim 14 furtherincluding the step of adding or removing air from the flotation chambersto impact the elevation of the housing.
 16. The method as described inclaim 11 wherein the step of filtering water is achieved with anactivated carbon filter.
 17. The method as described in claim 13 furtherincluding a vacuum pump to deflate flotation members to cause thehousing to move to a lower elevation within the body of water.
 18. Themethod as described in claim 13 wherein in the decrease in elevation ofthe housing is intentionally caused for the purpose of compacting weedsbelow the concave cavity and particularly to push the periphery of theconcave cavity against the floor of the body of water.
 19. The method asdescribed in claim 13 further including the step of providing an aircylinder and selectively adding air to the flotation chambers to impactthe elevation of the housing.
 20. The method as described in claim 6further including the step of providing at least one pump to moveherbicide between the concave cavity and the reservoir.
 21. The methodas described in claim 6 further including the step of providing a dosedispensing cylinder to determine the quantity of herbicide deposited inthe concave cavity.
 22. The method as described in claim 3 wherein thehousing is controlled from a boat.